Iran loses fight over "Lost Paradise" relics

Reuters ^ | Thursday, March 29, 2007 | Peter Griffiths

[SunkenCiv]

In a ruling that could affect other countries' attempts to secure the return of antiquities, Britain's High Court rejected Iran's claim that it owned the artifacts... Lawyers acting for Iran said the treasures were among thousands of pieces stolen by looters after floods washed away the topsoil and exposed the ancient city of Jiroft in 2001. Senior judge Charles Gray said Iran had failed to prove its legal ownership of the jars, cups and other items but gave permission for his ruling to be challenged at the appeal court... The gallery's London lawyers, Lane & Partners, said the antiquities were mainly bought at auction in Europe and were valued at about 250,000 pounds ($491,000).

[SunkenCiv]

Payback's a yoo-no-whaaat.

[SunkenCiv]

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

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[Constitutions Grandchild]

I think that's a good thing, you wouldn't want to put them back until after the bombing has stopped -- they could be broken. The safest place for them now is right where they are. When the earth stops rumbling and the dust is swept up and the museums are open again -- then we can put them back for the nice Iranians to appreciate. There, there, now.

[bannie]

Aren't these the guys who are smashing and obliterating all local artifacts that aren't muslem-ish?

[SunkenCiv]

:') If the artifacts were looted after the international ban on laissez' faire antiquities trading (as opposed to what went on during the European colonial period), they should go back. One problem of late has been that unsubstantiated claims that pieces came from looting has been recognized as legal claims.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

I can't honestly say. I remember something about the Talliban smashing vast antiquities, but Saddam was trying to dig them up to prove what a wonderful history Iraq had and how he was going to make a come-back as the "King of the World". There isn't a country over there (with the possible exception of Jordan which is trying to restore Petra) that appears to value anything other than Muslim historical sites. Like we say at home, if Mohamed pee-d on a rock -- it's time to build a Mosque.

[SunkenCiv]

The Spanish just bulldozed a major ruin to make way for a parking facility. It goes on all over. The Moslems *may* be the only ones since Pol Pot who make a point of using active techniques to seek and destroy antiquities.

The dig at Jiroft (which is where the Iranians claim these pieces originated, but couldn't substantiate this) has been under intense study lately, part of Iran's drive to look for pre-Persian antiquity on its own soil to improve its national self-image.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=Jiroft

[Constitutions Grandchild]

These days, a lot of unsubstantiated claims are growing legs and walking. If we don't wake up, they'll be talking soon and they are so impossible to silence.

[bannie]

(OOPS! Sent the first one as a private message...silly me!!)

I guess "progress" is paramount. (re: the Spaniards)

As for the intentional destruction of history...damn them!

I wonder at what we could have had if we hadn't lost the library at Alexandria!!!

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

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